Monday, August 26, 2013

For the past 22 years the Calgary Fire Department’s Aquatic Rescue Team members have been remembering local recreational diver Kevin Brown. Every August, since Kevin Brown passed away in a diving accident, the Calgary Fire Department awards the Kevin Brown Memorial Award and an aquatic training scholarship to a member of the Aquatic Rescue Team.

“The Kevin Brown Memorial Award not only serves as a legacy for the Brown family, in memory of their beloved son and brother, but it also provides members of our Aquatic Rescue Team with an opportunity to be recognized by their peers,” said Acting Fire Chief Greg Wilkes.

Each year the award is given annually based on voting by the Aquatic Rescue Team to an exemplary teammate and includes a scholarship for advanced aquatic training.

On August 15, Calgary firefighter and aquatic team member Owen Short received this year’s award from Acting Fire Chief Greg Wilkes and a member of Kevin Brown’s family.

“Thank you to the Brown family for providing this scholarship to help develop my knowledge and skill in aquatic rescue,” said Short while accepting the award at Fire Station No. 6. “The training made possible by the Kevin Brown family is a great asset to the citizens of Calgary and to me personally. I hope to make the Kevin Brown family and my aquatic rescue teammates proud.”

Brown was a recreational diver who passed away while practicing diving at Ghost Lake in April 1991. The Brown family were so impressed by the professionalism shown by the Aquatic Rescue Team through the week-long recovery operation that they were moved to make a lasting donation to the Calgary Fire Department. The result was the establishment of the Kevin Brown Memorial Award.

Acting Fire Chief Wilkes added, “We look forward to Owen completing a training course and sharing his knowledge with the rest of the Aquatic Rescue Team to help make our communities safer.”